Carriage-coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. I. TENNANT.

CARRIAGE COUPLING.

Pat ted Nov. 5. 1889.

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(No M d 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. I. TENNANT. CARRIAGE COUPLING.

No. 414,341. Patented Nov. 5, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

EDIVARD I. TENNANT, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

CARRIAG E-COU PLI N G.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,341, dated November 5, 1889.

' Application filed February 7,1889. Serial No. 299,051. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD I. TENNANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State 'of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carriage Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in carriage-couplings.

The object of my invention is to provide a coupling for carriages the parts of which may readily be connected together and when properly in place are firmly locked, so as to be held securely against accidental displacement, the construction being such that the couplings may be applied to carriages or vehicles of any variety.

My invention consists in improved constructions for the front and rear portions of the coupling by which the reach is secured to the respective axles and the front axle attached to the body of the vehicle, so as to permit the necessary movement in turning.

My invention further consists in the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation view of the front portionof the coupling with the fifth-wheel attachment. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on the lineX X in Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the lower yoke-plate and connecting-bar. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are plan views, respectively, of the front coupling and fifth-wheel attached thereto. Fig. 9 is an elevation view of the rear portion of the coupling, showing the same attached to the rear axle. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the same. Figs. 11 and 12 are plan views, respectively, of the top and bottom connecting-pieces at the rear portion of the coupling.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference throughout the several views.

In the said drawings, A represents the front axle, and B the rear axle. C is the reach which connects the same.

A and B represent the springs on the respective axles.

D is the fiftlrwheel, which forms a part of the front portion of the coupling. This fifthwheel is composed of the upper and lower fifth-wheel plates D and D each provided with segments a a a a, which form the fifthwheel circle. The lower fifth-wheel plate D is adapted to rest on the top of the front axle A, and is provided on either side with projecting lugs or ears I), through which pass securing-bolts I), projecting at the lower end 6a through the yoke-bar b which rests on the bottom of the axle, the said bolts being provided with suit-able nuts 17*, for drawing the parts tightly together. At the center of the lower fifth-wheel plate D is a bearing D having a central projecting portion 0 and an outer or bearing surface 0', the said bearingsurface 0 being extended at either side to form locking-plates c 0 The upper fifthwheel plate D is provided with a central 7o bearing D having a central opening at and an annular flange cl, an inner bearing sul face d, and laterally-projecting flanges d These laterally-projecting flanges 61 extend inwardly from the annular flange d, and are .75 cut away on either side to form openings (1 adapted to receive the locking-plates c c of the lower fifth-wheel plate D. The central bearing D of the lower fifth-wheel plate D has the locking-plates c 0 extending trans- 8o versely across said plate, while the upper plate has the flanged openings (1 longitudinal with the said plate.

In placing the parts together the plates are turned at right angles to their normal position, when the locking-plates 0 will pass through the openings d permitting the con tral projection c to enter the central opening cl and the bearing-surface c to come against the bearing-surface (1 When the plates are 0 turned to their normal position, the lockingplates 0 come under the lateral flanges 1 and the parts are thus held firmly together.

To provide for securing the spring to the upper fifth-wheel plate and at the same time 5 adapt the said plate to the use of springs of different shape and size, I provide at the top of said upper plate a spring-bearing pocket E, having upwardly-projecting side and end flanges 6, adapted to receive the spring-bear- 10o ing E. This spring-bearing E is preferably made of wood, and is adapted to fit snugly in the pocket E, and is held in position by the said flanges e. The fifth-wheel plate I) is provided with lugs e on either side of the pocket E, adapted to receive suitable fasten ing-bolts (2 which pass through the same, and are provided at the top with the usual yoke-pieces e and nuts 6 to secure the spring in place on the fifth-wheel and at the same time hold the spring-bearing firmly in place in the pocket E. By this construction it will be seen that by changing the spring-bearing E to suit the curve of the spring the same fifth -'wheel may be used with any size or shape of spring desired.

Extending backwardly and downwardly from the upper fifth-wheel plate D and cast rigidly therewith is an upper connecting-piece F, provided at the lower end with side flanges f, which extend downwardly on each side of the reach C.

F is a lower connecting-piece, also provided with small flanges f to receive the reach 0. The lower connecting-piece I is provided at the front end with a socket f adapted to fit over a projection or stud f on the yoke-plate Z2 The upper and lower connecting-pieces F and F are bolted to the reach 0 by suitable bolts f and are also connected together at the forward end by a safety-bolt f which serves to hold rigidly together the parts, and furnishes means for taking up any wear in the fifth-wheel or lower connecting-piece.

I In coupling the reach 0 to the rear axle, I use a lower connecting-piece H, extended backwardly and upwardly and formed into the yoke-plate II, adapted to rest on the bottom of the axle and receive the connectingbolts 9, which secure the spring B in place. The upper connecting-plate K is provided with an upwardly and rearwardly extending portion K, which rests against the front of the axle and is secured thereto by a suitable fastening-bolt h. The upper connecting-plate K is formed with a bearing-seat h, adapted to rest against a similar bearing-surface 71 on the lower coupling-plate. These connectingplates H K are bolted firmly to the reach 0, thus forming an angle or corner connection which rests against the front and bottom of the rear axle, respectively, and holds the same firmly against torsional movement, while the reach 0 is dropped below the plane of said axle. The lower rear connecting-plate II is preferably formed with small side flanges Z, adapted to fit on either side of the reach 0, and thus more firmly hold the same in position and prevent breakage of said plate I-I.

It will be seen that by the construction above described a carriage-coupling is formed the parts of which are readily detachable, and at the same time when secured together are held securely in position by having the annular flange d on the upper plate adapted to encircle the bearing-surface c. On the lower fifth-wheel plate I have a locking device between the said parts, which is entirely shielded from dirt and foreign substances. The respective locking portions being placed at right angles to each other, it will be seen that when the fifth-wheel is in place in its normal position and the wheels of the vehicle on the axle it will be impossible for the parts to become detached.

The projecting ears I) on the lower fifthwheel plate I extend downwardly below the bottom of said plate, so as to engage the axle A on either side, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and thus more firmly secure the fifth-wheel to the axle and relieve the fastening-bolts b of any undue strain thereon.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 7 1. Thecombination, with the reach of a vehicle, of the upper and lower interlocking fifth-wheel plates, as described, said upper plate being provided with a backwardly and downwardly extending connection secured to said reach, the axle to which the lower plate is secured, a yoke-plate at the bottom of said axle secured to said lower plate, a lower connection pivoted to said yoke-plate concentric with the center of said fifth-wheel plates, said lower connection being attached to the upper connection through the reach in the rear of the axle and to the upper plate by a safetybolt in the front of the axle, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a fifth-wheel composed of interlocking parts, as described, of a rear projecting connecting-piece having side flanges adapted to be attached to the Vehiclereach, a lower connecting-piece also attached to the said reach, a yoke-piece at the bottom of said axle connected to the lower part of said fifth-wheel, a pocket in the upper part of said fifth-wheel, an independent springbearing in the said pocket, and a safety-bolt connecting the upper and lower connectingpieces, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the reach of a vehicle, of the upper and lower forward connecting-pieces, each swiveled to the axle and connected together at the front and rear of said axle, as described, the rear connectingpieces adapted to bolt to the top and bottom of the reach, and having bearing-faces to come together, as described, the upper connecting-piece being bolted to the front of said axle and the lower piece to the bottom of said axle, substantially as and for the purpose set ing the'upper and lower plates, as described,

and a bearing-surface having upwardly-projecting side and end flanges about the same adapted to form a pocket on said upper plate, of an independent spring-bearing to fit in said pocket, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with a reach of a vehicle and a fifth-wheel at one end thereof, of rear connecting-pieces at the opposite end'of said reach, said rear connect-ing-pieces being adapted to bolt to the top and bottom of the In testimony whereof I have hereunto set reach, respectively, and provided with bearmy hand this 4th day of February, A. D.1889. ing-faces to come together, as described, the

upper connecting-piece beingbolted to the EDWARD I. TENNANT. 5 front of said axle and the bottom piece to I \Vitnesses:

the bottom of said axle, substantially as set CHAS. S. WVELOH,

forth. ISAIAH RICHARDS. 

